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Ferguson: Brown jury decides not to charge officer | Ferguson: Brown jury decides not to charge officer |
(35 minutes later) | |
A US grand jury has decided not to charge a police officer over the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. | A US grand jury has decided not to charge a police officer over the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. |
State prosecutor Robert McCulloch said the jury had exhaustively examined the evidence but Mr Brown's family said they were "profoundly disappointed". | State prosecutor Robert McCulloch said the jury had exhaustively examined the evidence but Mr Brown's family said they were "profoundly disappointed". |
News of the ruling sparked the worst night of rioting yet in Ferguson. | News of the ruling sparked the worst night of rioting yet in Ferguson. |
Shots were fired and cars and buildings set alight as police fired tear gas to break up the crowd of protesters. | |
Police officer Darren Wilson shot dead Michael Brown, 18, in the St Louis suburb on 9 August. There followed nights of rioting in Ferguson and protests across America. | Police officer Darren Wilson shot dead Michael Brown, 18, in the St Louis suburb on 9 August. There followed nights of rioting in Ferguson and protests across America. |
President Barack Obama joined the teenager's family on Monday in appealing for calm, urging Americans to accept the decision was "the grand jury's to make''. | President Barack Obama joined the teenager's family on Monday in appealing for calm, urging Americans to accept the decision was "the grand jury's to make''. |
The case has stoked racial tensions in the US, where many in the African American community called for Mr Wilson to be charged with murder. | The case has stoked racial tensions in the US, where many in the African American community called for Mr Wilson to be charged with murder. |
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool reports seeing more vandalism and looting after the ruling than on any night in August. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool reports seeing more vandalism and looting after the ruling than on any night in August. |
'Heart and soul' | 'Heart and soul' |
The jury's decision was announced on Monday. Hundreds of protesters milled around the police department in Ferguson, following the news on radios and mobile phones. | The jury's decision was announced on Monday. Hundreds of protesters milled around the police department in Ferguson, following the news on radios and mobile phones. |
Explaining the decision, Mr McCulloch said the jury's job had been to separate fact from fiction, and that some witness statements had been contradicted by physical evidence. | Explaining the decision, Mr McCulloch said the jury's job had been to separate fact from fiction, and that some witness statements had been contradicted by physical evidence. |
"These grand jurors poured their hearts and soul into this process," he said. | "These grand jurors poured their hearts and soul into this process," he said. |
Protesters have been chanting, "Hands up, don't shoot" - a reference to statements by some witnesses who said Mr Brown had had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot. | Protesters have been chanting, "Hands up, don't shoot" - a reference to statements by some witnesses who said Mr Brown had had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot. |
Police say there was a struggle between the teenager and the officer before the shooting. | Police say there was a struggle between the teenager and the officer before the shooting. |
In his own testimony, Mr Wilson says that before the shooting Mr Brown pushed him back into his car, hit him and briefly grabbed his drawn gun. | In his own testimony, Mr Wilson says that before the shooting Mr Brown pushed him back into his car, hit him and briefly grabbed his drawn gun. |
The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens - nine white and three black. | The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens - nine white and three black. |
At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment. | At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment. |
Mr McCulloch said the biggest challenge for his office was the "24-hour news cycle and an insatiable appetite for something - for anything - to talk about". | Mr McCulloch said the biggest challenge for his office was the "24-hour news cycle and an insatiable appetite for something - for anything - to talk about". |
Fire and gas | Fire and gas |
After the announcement, Mr Brown's family issued a statement saying they were "profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions". | After the announcement, Mr Brown's family issued a statement saying they were "profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions". |
Outside the police department, Mr Brown's mother burst into tears. | Outside the police department, Mr Brown's mother burst into tears. |
Some in the crowd began throwing objects at a police line. | Some in the crowd began throwing objects at a police line. |
Shortly afterwards shots were fired, and protesters were seen vandalising police cars, at least one of which was set on fire. Police responded with smoke and tear gas. | Shortly afterwards shots were fired, and protesters were seen vandalising police cars, at least one of which was set on fire. Police responded with smoke and tear gas. |
Firefighters tackled a large blaze and heavy black smoke at a retail building, with reports of a pharmacy and a pizza shop also on fire. | Firefighters tackled a large blaze and heavy black smoke at a retail building, with reports of a pharmacy and a pizza shop also on fire. |
Several other buildings were broken into and looted. | Several other buildings were broken into and looted. |
The Federal Aviation Authority said it was restricting the path of some flights into St Louis amid the unrest. | The Federal Aviation Authority said it was restricting the path of some flights into St Louis amid the unrest. |
Thousands of people also protested in other US cities including Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York. Protesters in Oakland, California, blocked traffic on a major motorway. | Thousands of people also protested in other US cities including Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York. Protesters in Oakland, California, blocked traffic on a major motorway. |